Montenegrin authorities imposed €7.92 million in penalties during an intensified inspection campaign covering tourism, hospitality, retail, employment and tax compliance, following approximately 14,930 inspections conducted between early July and early September.
The controls identified around 8,220 irregularities, resulting in 660 prohibition orders, the sealing of 253 establishments and the initiation of 34 misdemeanour court proceedings. Inspection activity increased by approximately 5,000 controls compared with the previous summer, while the total value of penalties roughly doubled. Authorities also seized goods suspected of being counterfeit worth approximately €2 million.
Enforcement Across Tourism and Hospitality
The summer campaign covered sectors including tourism and hospitality, where a substantial share of Montenegro’s annual economic activity is concentrated within a relatively short period. The inspection results point to continuing irregularities in business operations despite stronger tax collection efforts and measures to align domestic regulation with European Union standards.
For businesses complying with tax, employment and registration requirements, more intensive inspections could reduce the competitive advantages enjoyed by operators that avoid these obligations. At the same time, smaller businesses face greater compliance demands and financial exposure when documentation is incomplete or employment arrangements are informal.
Penalties and Public Revenue
The reported €7.92 million represents fines imposed, not confirmed cash collected. The distinction is relevant when assessing the campaign’s direct contribution to public revenue. The enforcement drive forms part of Montenegro’s efforts to formalise tourism-related economic activity and strengthen public finances without relying exclusively on increases in tax rates.
EU Alignment and Market Supervision
Montenegro’s EU accession process involves tighter standards in areas including employment, consumer protection, food safety and market supervision. These requirements accompany efforts to strengthen inspection capacity and digital oversight. The increased number of controls and the higher value of penalties reflect the scale of enforcement during the summer campaign, while the identified irregularities and seized suspected counterfeit goods demonstrate the range of issues addressed by the authorities.
